Pros and Cons of Electic Cars
Pro: Daily Savings
No more fuel bills for you. You’ll need to plug in overnight to charge and possibly hook up while you are out doing errands. Still, the savings can add up. While the cost of electricity varies, and what you get depends on the vehicle, the numbers favor EVs.
For instance, a full charge in the Nissan LEAF provides up to 225 miles and costs around $10 at $0.13 kWh. With a similar size and capabilities, the Nissan Sentra would need 5.75 gallons of gas to go 225 miles on the highway – and much more if you’re throwing city driving in there. In the modern world, gas prices below $2.00 per gallon are becoming extinct, and for the Sentra to break even, you would need to find it at $1.74 per gallon consistently. So unless you live somewhere where gas is astronomically cheap, the EV will always be cheaper to run.
Con: Initial Price
The initial costs of electric vehicles will be higher than similarly sized, similarly equipped gasoline-powered vehicles. That being said, these costs are often offset, for the most part, through tax credits. While it won’t knock the prices down to the point of similarly equipped vehicles in the same size range, it will put them within reach. The daily savings will help the initial difference even out over only four or five years, and after six or seven years, it makes the EV a cheaper long-term option.
Pro: Performance
The dawdling acceleration and limited top speed of the early electric vehicles are long gone. A brand-new Tesla features some of the fastest acceleration numbers of any non-supercar, with the electric power providing instantaneous full-throttle performance. No spooling up or build-up is needed, and the electric gearbox means full power immediately. Older electric vehicles also suffered from relatively low top speeds, which are necessary for conserving power. Still, the modern EV will have no issues, even on high-speed highways across the country.
This power isn’t just reserved for Tesla, either. Even conservative EVs like the Chevy Bolt and the Nissan Leaf feature 0-60 times under 8 seconds and are on par with other comparable vehicles – the Bolt is only a few tenths slower accelerating than the Honda Civic model’s turbocharged gasoline engines.
Con: Performance, Also
That being said, the translation of the electric vehicle into rough-road, all-weather, and off-road capabilities still hasn’t quite found its grip. The instantaneous full power means feathering the throttle to get through sloppy mud isn’t happening. The weight and range of battery packs are also a bit of a dilemma – good luck finding a charging point in the deep forest!
The good news? Translating electric powerplants to four-wheel drive and off-roading vehicles isn’t too far away. The Jaguar iPace, Volvo XC40, and Audi e-Tron are all four-wheel drive, so the tech is there. Once the demand grows, there’s no doubt that automakers like Jeep will figure out how to meet it.
Pro: Better for the Environment
Saving money is a great thing – but saving the world? That’s the next level! While there are associated emissions for electric vehicles, depending on how the electricity used to power the vehicle is created, it will still be much less than the environmental impact of a fuel-burning vehicle.
The modern electric vehicle benefits from more efficient electricity usage and more efficient electricity production. Modern electrical production requires less fuel – even coal-burning plants are more efficient than in the past. The electricity needed for today’s electric vehicle is less environmentally damaging than any full-gasoline-powered vehicle on the road.
Con: Lagging Infrastructure
The infrastructure across the United States for electric vehicles has improved greatly over the years. Power points and charging stations have increased hand over fist. Still, they are limited to areas expecting electric vehicles, and they can’t be guaranteed wherever you go. Vacation rentals, hotels and motels, and restaurants aren’t all equipped to charge while you’re doing business. You’ll still need to be attentive to your range and available charging spots and plan your trips accordingly. Forget about going too far off the beaten path or heading into the deep woods on a camping trip.
Pro: Cheaper, Less Frequent Maintenance
No oil. No combustion. Less moving parts under the hood. Brakes don’t suffer as much wear and tear, thanks to the use of regenerative braking. This adds up to an Electric Vehicle requiring less maintenance and causes the maintenance visits to be a bit less expensive than gasoline-powered vehicles.
Con: Limited Choices
Until every vehicle is made with an electric vehicle alternate, you’ll be limited in your choices. Sure, there are a fair few – aside from the well-known Tesla, the Nissan LEAF has been a long-time leader in the category and is the most popular EV on the road. The Chevy Bolt is catching up, as is the VW e-Golf. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Kona and Kia Nero EVs have brought full electric power to the compact SUV category. Ford is even getting into the game with the Mustang Mach-E SUV to merge the Mustang brand, SUV utility, and EV sensibility into a single package.
Volvo, MINI, Honda, Mitsubishi, Audi, and Porsche all offer a single entrant into the EV markets, while BMW has three options – although the i8 is priced for exclusivity. Aside from that? It’s all still on the horizon. So if you were hoping for a Chevy EV SUV or Hyundai Veloster with an electric engine, you’d still be waiting for a good long bit.
Electric Vehicles and Auto Transport
Who knows, maybe one-day electric vehicle transporters will be used to get electric vehicles to their endpoints – both Tesla and Mercedes-Benz are working toward electric semi-trucks, with Mercedes even saying they may have road-ready models as soon as 2024! While Number 1 Auto Transport still uses diesel power to get your EV to the showroom or delivered across the country to your next destination for living and working, we hope that environmentally-friendly delivery is soon for your environmentally-friendly EVs!
No matter what vehicle you need to transport across the country or even across the state, Number 1 Auto Transport is ready to give you a hand. We know how much you value your vehicle – which is why we work with only the best carriers on the road, with the best reputations for delivering vehicles safe and damage-free. We put forth the effort to ensure a great experience for you, getting your vehicle to its next stop without damage or defects from beginning to end. Reach out today to find out about working with our team!
